NYSAA Executive Board Candidates

Dave Roach, IAO - Candidate for President

After a few years working for various mass appraisal companies in the late 80’s and early 90’s I followed the lead of some friends and worked towards becoming a certified candidate for assessor. Most days I look back on that decision and think it was a great idea. Some days it feels like I lost a bet. Such is life. Either way the work paid off and I began looking for the opportunity to become the sole appointed assessor.

I accepted my first appointment on July 1, 1999, for the Town of Williamstown in Oswego County. I have been the assessor there every day since. I am currently the sole assessor for seven municipalities in Oswego and Wayne counties.

I became a member of the IAO in 2004. I have a professional assessor designation. I am currently a certified general appraiser in New York State. I have served as Vice President and President of the Oswego County Assessor Association. I am fortunate to say this is my second time serving on the executive board of the NYSAA. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve our membership as President.

Lisa Goreé - Candidate for First Vice President

My name is Lisa R. Goreé, and I am the Sole Assessor for the Town of Southampton. I would like to thank everyone that voted for me in the last election. It’s been an honor to work with such a great group of dedicated individuals. I currently serve on the Employee Committee as well as Chairperson for the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

I’ve worked in the Town of Southampton Assessor’s Office for over 22 years, having first started as an Assessment Clerk. Since then, I’ve held several titles, including Deputy Assessor for 4 years and later appointed Sole Assessor in 2013. With a staff of only 10, including myself, I am charged with overseeing the valuation of over 50,000 parcels that include over 37,000 residential properties, and an average of 1,500 annual sales. Approximately 7% of our single-family residences are considered “Exceptional Homes,” however, they make up 44% of our residential assessed value.

Together, with my husband Kristin of 37 years we have raised 3 beautiful daughters who have blessed us with 6 wonderful grandchildren. We live on the Shinnecock Reservation, the oldest self-governing Native American tribe in NY State. We welcomed the first settlers to our shores in 1640 to what is now known as Southampton Village. I am the first Native American to hold a department head position in the Town and like my ancestors, in some way, I consider myself “a keeper of the land.”

During my time with the Town, I was involved with the 2004 town-wide reassessment where I oversaw the data collection and data conversion process from Boeckh to Marshall & Swift. In 2011 we implemented the online grievance submission process by providing an electronic fillable PDF application on our website which is then emailed directly to our MS Outlook grievance inbox. Applications are assigned a parcel ID associated with their tax map number and subsequently uploaded to their individual files located in our database. This process allows the Town to email 95% of the BAR notices, which has saved the Town thousands of dollars annually in time, staff and printing.

If re-elected, I look forward to participating in the continued work of the NYSAA Executive Board.

Heather L. Weinhold - Candidate for Second Vice President

Heather L. Weinhold was raised in Guilderland, NY and is currently the Guilderland Town Assessor. She was born into the assessment community as her mother worked in the Town of Guilderland's Assessors Department for 37 years maintaining the role of Assessor for 16 of those years. Throughout Heather's younger years she was known as the Town Hall mascot.

Heather attended Mohonasen High School participating in the travel Marching Band through 12th grade, graduating in 2003. Participating in the Marching band gave way to wonderful friends, taught time management with having to juggle studies along with two weekly practices and traveling for competitions on the weekends. After high school Heather's strong work ethic enabled her to complete her 4-year degree in just 3 years, at SUNY Oneonta earning a Bachelor of Science in English. During college breaks Heather would return home and work part time for her mother in the Assessor's office, doing clerical work and assisting with a reassessment in 2005.

Heather's career started full time in the spring of 2013 when the opportunity arose for the position of Assessment Clerk. From that moment on, the end goal was to become the next Town Assessor to continue on the legacy that runs in her blood. One Day seminars, conferences, along with courses given by New York State Tax and Finance soon began to get her closer to that goal. In July of 2020 Heather was appointed to Sole Assessor for the Town of Guilderland. Since taking office, Heather has made sure to maintain a positive and welcoming work environment for all staff and residents alike.

Stephen Harris - Candidate for Executive Board Member

I’ve been in the Assessment field for 41 years as an Contractor, Assessor and County Director. I have been President and Chairman of the Board for the County Directors Association. I have developed and taught several courses at the Assessor’s Conference over the past several years as well as the County Director Conferences. I come from a family of Real Property professionals, my dad worked or ORPTS (E&A back then), my wife is an Assessor and past President of NYSAA and a sister that was an Assessor. I have been a dedicated professional and fully believe in what we do as a profession. I have severed on the Training Advisory Committee, the Equalization Committee and RPTAC all as a County Director.

Kimberli Johnston, Candidate for Executive Board Member

My name is Kimberli Johnston, and I am the assessor for the City of Watertown in Jefferson County and the Town of Boylston in Oswego County. I enjoy helping people, working within my community, volunteering and teaching my girls how important it is in life to make your way. My career in assessment started back in 2012 when I ran into Denise Trudell at the convenience store. She knew I wanted to go back into the workforce after spending my time at home as a mom, of three very busy girls. I had no idea what an assessor did or what I was getting myself into. The thought of someone who barely knew me and already believed that I could help her, I accepted the position. I started out in Clayton as the assessment clerk part-time. After being there a few years, I asked if I could join NYSAA and start the process of becoming an assessor. The support I received from Denise and so many local assessors was amazing. I attended my first Fall Conference watching Denise sworn in as the NYSAA President, and I knew I wanted to be there someday. That next summer I signed up for Course 1 with Nathan Gabbert. Then course 2, commercial appraisal, mass appraisal, the farm course, and so many more. Every course I took I had a better understanding and knowledge of this field, that chose me. I went on to become the town of Clayton assessor until 2022 when I got a call from Brian Phelps asking me to come work as his appraiser in the city. Many people thought I was taking a step back in my career; I looked at it as a new learning opportunity, a way to grow, a way to learn from another outstanding assessor, and I went for it. Then soon after becoming the city appraiser I had the opportunity to become the assessor in Boylston. Last fall, after Brians retirement I took on the roll as City of Watertown Assessor. During my assessment career, I have been the President, Vice President and secretary for the Jefferson County Assessor’s Association. As a 10-year member of NYSAA, I have been on the following committees, awards, membership, and mentoring.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, visiting the lake and river, going to my camp in Diana and watching my girl’s cheer. I am a single mom of three beautiful girls, Laney 21, Kylee 18, and Kamie 16. I am a volunteer for various organizations within my community, and I am a board member and secretary for the NCE Cheer Team. Now that my girls are older and I have more experience in the assessment community, I feel it is the perfect time for me to join and expand my interest in the Executive Board for the New York State Assessor’s Association. I look forward to working with you all.

John Noto, IAO - Candidate for Executive Board Member

John J. Noto Jr., IAO, CCD is the assessor for the Town of Clarkstown. John received his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from St. Thomas Aquinas College. In 1985, he started out his career in his family’s appraisal firm, which was founded in the 1950s. After working for the appraisal firm, he went on to spend four years as a real property tax specialist for Rockland County. He later worked as the county director for Rockland County, then spent a year as an assistant assessor for the City of Yonkers. Then from Yonkers, John took on the assessor position in Clarkstown. He was appointed to the NYSAA Executive Board in 2024.